Dr. Gridlock: January 23, 2011 - January 29, 2011

This week's weather has played havoc with road construction schedules throughout the D.C. region. It was too cold for some work, while in other areas, operations were suspended for the safety of the crews and drivers. That work will start to pick up again over the weekend and next week. After Friday's light snow, travelers will have patches of sun and moderate daytime temperatures through the weekend.

Metro employees who lost their lives "in the line of duty" over the 35-year history of the transit agency are to be honored on Monday, when Metro plans to unveil a memorial pylon dedicated to the employees at Metro Center Station, according to Metro spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein.

The Metrorail platform at Shady Grove is in full use again, following completion of the month-long first phase of a repair project that had restricted use of the platform to a single side, the transit authority announced.

5:42 p.m. Update: DDOT reports that the accident has been cleared. Original post: A two-car accident has shut down I-295 prior to the 11th Street Bridge, according to the District Department of Transportation. Traffic is being diverted off the highway...

The New York Times this week had the curious tale of a MetroNorth train hurtling on raised tracks and through tunnels with one door completely open, while riders on the full train stood nonchalantly inches away.

For the most part, buses are operating on their normal routes and timetables, Metro says.
But the agency does not clear bus stops of snow--and plows can sometimes shove snow in front of them--so be careful while waiting for the bus, and use NextBus to minimize your waiting time.

Expect cy roads and a lot of slick areas if you are heading back to the office today. Whether you're walking or driving, use great caution. Check back here throughout the morning, as we will have updates on traffic conditions throughout the area.

There were Orange Line delays heading to New Carrollton this morning due to a brake malfunction, according to Metro. The delays were brief and seem to have passed, but we'll update you on any other delays this morning.

Two manholes are smoking underground in separate incidents in Northwest and Northeast Washington which could cause traffic disruptions at the end of Thursday's rush hour, D.C. Fire officials said. Firefighters were first called to the 2nd Street and Constitution Avenue...

VRE is operating on the "S" schedule today. Their biggest train sets, consisting of eight cars, will run on trains 332 (departing Broad Run at 7:50 a.m.) and 312 (departing Fredericksburg at 7:40 a.m.). Decisions about tomorrow's service will be made by 4:30 a.m., but officials said they anticipate going back to a full schedule.

A team of researchers today discussed technology that could dynamically control an urban street grid, rerouting traffic in the way most efficient for any given conditions. Described as an automatic architecture for real-time traffic, the street grid would learn from experience, remembering which strategies were most effective in the real world.

Capital Bikeshare closed last night at 6pm, and bikes still may not be checked out. According to its safety police, the system will re-open when major roadways are salted, plowed and clear of snow and ice.

Area jurisdictions have plows on the ground, and the Washington Post has eyes on area roads large and small. Here you'll find a running stream of updates on the driveability or disasters affecting roads large and small.

Amtrak has suspended service from New York to Boston and from New Haven to Springfield this morning in the wake of the snowstorm that hit the Northeast on Wednesday. Service between Washington and New York is operating with limited cancelations.

Heavy snow has forced the closure of two major New York-area airports. The Federal Aviation Administration Web site says Newark Liberty International is expected to reopen to flights at noon Thursday. Kennedy airport is expected to open at 10 a.m. Thursday.

With snow hitting the greater Washington area today and through tonight, we're going to have a lot of the white stuff to clean up. Here is some information on snow removal and where you can turn for help. Keep in mind that in most jurisdictions, property owners are responsible for clearing adjacent sidewalks.

The District Department of Public Works will enforce morning rush hour restrictions today. Drivers can't park on streets that are specified as rush hour routes between 7 and 9:30 a.m. There's a $100 fine for parking on such a route.

All MARC trains will operate on their regular schedules Friday, as will the MTA Commuter Bus, the Maryland Transit Administration said Thursday. MARC train service was disrupted on the Brunswick and Camden Lines today due to conditions following Wednesday's severe...

Sometimes you can get a little jealous when you're working long after everyone else is headed home. Not tonight. We received tons of reports of disastrously long commutes and shared some of them here. We also asked for some stories...

Metrorail plans to open this morning at its normal 5 a.m. operating time. Metrobuses will begin the day on snow emergency routes (no side streets), but officials say full operations will return to normal as soon as the street conditions...

Maryland Commuter Bus service contracted through Dillon, Keller, Eyre, and Martz will not operate on Thursday. Most MARC service is also canceled. The Maryland Transit Administration said that they expect major roads to be treated overnight. However, parking lots still...

One runway is open at Dulles International and Reagan National airports, according to airports authority spokesman Rob Yingling. Yingling said the overnight focus has been on clearing the taxiways which connect runways to the gates. The airports expect cancellations on...

Some major thoroughfares are completely jammed or officially shut down. Here are a few, based on accounts from Post reporters on the scene and from officials. Stuck or stalled buses are causing problems on many routes. Northbound 16th Street is...

Metro is reporting delays in both directions on the Red line and is single-tracking on the Blue/Orange lines after D.C. firefighters were called to put out two fires inside tunnels at separate Metro stations.

7:25 p.m.: Metrobuses will be pulled out of service starting at about 9:30 tonight. Bus operators will complete the bus routes that they are running before returning to bus garages. Metro will be watching the weather and will make a...

The snow that has made travel difficult, plus the early release of federal workers, has made for a nightmare for riders who Metro to West Falls Church before transferring to a bus. At about 5:00--when the early releasees converged with those leaving work at the end of a typical day--lines were backed up through the bus shelters all the way down the escalators in the station, making it difficult to exit the station even if you weren't waiting for the bus, some riders said.

Check here for the latest road closures near you, including on-the-ground accounts.
Streets on major routes out of the District are crowded as drivers gingerly make their way into the suburbs.
With snow taking hold on highways in Northern Virginia, the Virginia Department of Transportation reported slow going, further hindered by a number of accidents. Cameras around the region were showing bumper-to-bumper traffic, and rides home were becoming white-knuckle rides lasting an hour or more.

[This post has been updated] Crews at Washington's three major airports planned to continue working through the night Wednesday to ensure that runways are open Thursday morning. Even so officials warned that widespsread cancellations would affect travelers intending to depart...

Train 852 has been canceled on MARC's Camden Line. The train, which normally departs Union Station at 5:51 p.m., will be replaced by an earlier train that is scheduled to leave at 3 p.m. and will make all stops to...

Alexandria officials are taking the first steps in making the Potomac Yard Metro station a reality by holding a scoping meeting for the public in February. Two Feb. 10 meetings will let residents, business owners and government agencies give public...

As you settle in at work after an interesting morning commute, tell me this: What did you know and how did you know it? Did you hear about the delay on the Blue Line? Did you hear about the accidents on the inner loop?

Virginia transportation officials are pleased with the results of an experiment launched in 2009 to see if drivers would slow for a trail crossing if they saw zigzagging white lines painted along the approach roads.

There are MARC delays this morning on the Camden Line. Southbound trains are running 15 to 30 minutes late due to a switch problem south of Muikirk, while northbound trains are running 15 to 30 minutes late because of the late arrival of equipment in Washington.

A wet morning commute across the Washington region may be the most pleasant part of Wednesday for drivers, transit riders, cyclists and other travelers. Precipitation is moving into the area overnight, and what you will see as you head out...

The Washington area may get up to eight inches of snow from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday overnight. When the snow hits, here's a look at ways you can ease your travels. This advice comes from transportation officials, Metro maintenance staff, plow drivers and ordinary travelers who have been getting around the area for years.

None of the big projects that drivers are used to encountering during overnight travel in Northern Virginia will be set up tonight. That will clear the way for the road crews to prepare for Wednesday's storm.

Both stations are closed due to a possible fire onboard a train. Montgomery County fire department is checking it out and Dr. Gridlock is monitoring their scanner chatter. Metro is operating shuttle service, and buses on Georgia Avenue are free.

When riding on a train or bus, we like stability. Do we also like it for the leadership of the transit authority in 2011?
On Thursday, the Metro board will tell us that the results of its nationwide search for a new transit authority leader has led right back to the old boss, Richard Sarles, the man the board picked last winter to serve as interim general manager following the resignation of John B. Catoe Jr.

Metro is adding another midday work zone to the Red Line today. Trains will share a track between Friendship Heights and Medical Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Feb. 11 to clear room for a track work zone.

On Tuesday evening, traffic restrictions will be in effect around the Capitol. President Obama is scheduled to deliver the State of the Union address at 9 p.m. These areas are scheduled to be closed from 7 p.m. until the end of the event:

2:45 p.m. Update: The accident scene has been cleared and traffic is flowing freely. Original post: An accident on I-270 South has most lanes blocked. The accident is just before the exit to Father Hurley Boulevard. Police and a wrecker...

Gov. Bob McDonnell would have the power to appoint a member to the Metro Board of Directors, under a bill proposed by a Northern Virginia delegate.
The bill, HB 2000, introduced by Del. James LeMunyon (R-Fairfax) would allow the governor to appoint an additional member to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, who would then sit on the Metro Board.

3:20 p.m. Update: Empire service will resume Tuesday morning, Amtrak said. 12:55 p.m. Update: Amtrak says the Empire service between New York and Albany is suspended for the rest of Monday. Original post: Plunging temperatures prompted Amtrak to suspend service...

Metro will roll out a pilot program of sensors on parking spaces that will collect data on parking usage to help Metro make strategic choices and to keep riders from having to drive in circles looking for a spot.

The annual March for Life is Monday. D.C. police announced several street closings and some parking restrictions, but drivers also should be alert for large groups of people in downtown Washington, around the National Mall and at the Supreme Court.

Several of the many events that mark us as the nation's capital have the potential to slow travel this week. One, the annual March for Life to protest the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision will be held today. The other, the State of the Union address, is scheduled for Tuesday evening. The forecast for local travel looks pretty good -- unless you count late Tuesday into Wednesday, when the Capital Weather Gang predicts a storm will pass through, though it's still uncertain what type of precipitation we're in for.